Snap-catch.



J. CHABOTI SNAP CATCH.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. Io. I916.

1,21 @276. Patented Jan. 30,1917.

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Parana ermine.

JOSEPH CHAIBOT, OF NORTH ATTLEBORO, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO GEO. L. PAINE COMPANY, OF NORTH ATTLEBOBO, MASSACHUSETTS, A CORPORATION 0F RHODE ISLAN D.

SNAP-CATCH.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 3%, 1217!.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, Josnrn Cnaeor, a citizenof the United Stat-es, residing at North Attleboro, in the county of Bristol and State of Massachusetts, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Snap- Catches, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in snap catches, and pertains more particularly to catches used to connect the ends of bracelets.

The primary object of the invention is to provide a catch which is automatically locked when moved to closed position, and which may be readily unlocked by merely pressing thereon with the finger nail.

Further, the invention aims .to provide a catch which is effective in operation, and simple and economical in construction.

In the drawings Figure 1 is a side edge elevation of the invention. Fig. 2 is a bottom plan view. Fig. 3 is a section on the line 33 of Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is an enlarged section on the line H of Fig. 3, and Fig. 5 is a detail back plan view of the housing.

In accordance with the present invention a housing 1 is employed preferably being of the same general conformation as that of a bracelet link 2. Obviously, however, the invention can be used with articles other than bracelets, and its use is, therefore, not limited to the latter.

One end of the housing is extended at 3 to form a relatively stationary tongue which cooperates with the sliding hook or catch proper a as shown in Figs. 1 and 3. The side edge of the housing is notched at 5 to receive a finger 6 formed on an arm of the hook member. The hook member is cutaway at 8 so as to form this arm 7, and to provide for certain amount of resiliency of the arm permitting the user to press the finger nail against the finger 6 and thus depress the arm to move the finger 6 out of the notch 5.

The cut-away part 8 also provided space for the reception of a stop 9 that limits the out movement of the hook member 1. The rear end oi. arm 7 has a pin like projection 10 which receives a coil spring 11, which latter tensions the catch by ressing same outwardly. Spring 11 is positioned through an opening 12 formed in the back of the housing 1, which latter also has a similar though smaller opening 13 to receive the spring for the adjacent bracelet link with which link the invention is illustrated, but otherwise has no bearing on the invention. An abutment of any suitable character such as 14: is provided and against which one end of the spring 11 engages.

The back of the housing is completed by a supplemental plate 15, the ends 16, of which extend through notches or cut-outs 17 in the housing 1, one of the ends 16 extending into the cut-away part 8 of the hook member. 1

In operation, it will be seen that when the finger 6 and arm 7 are pressed inwardly from the position of Fig. 4 the spring will move the book 41; away from the housing extension 3, thereby to allow the part to be locked to be placed in between 3 and 4: or removed therefrom if therein. To lock the hook member it is merely necessary to press sam inwardly against the action of the spring 11, which will cause the finger 6 to snap into the notch 5, when arriving oppo site the same, thus automatically locking and unlocking the catch by outward and inward movement of 4 and 6.

The extension 3 is as will be noted integral with the back of the housing and is preferably contracted and inclined with respect thereto so as to thus more readily receive the part to be locked and the extreme free edge of the hook bears against the extreme free edge of the extension 3.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. In a catch, a housing of approximately rectangular cross-section having its back plate extended at an incline and contracted, a hook member slidable within the housing and having the extreme free edge of its hook engageable with the extreme free edge of the extension, said hook member being cut-away to form a resilient arm and a finger at right angles to the arm, the housing having a side notch to receive the finger, a pin-like projection on the rear inner end of the member, a coil spring receiving said projection, means in the housing to engage the rear end of the spring, and a stop in the housing arranged within the cut-away part of said member.

2. In a catch, a housing of approximately a'ectangular cross-section having its back plate extended at an incline and contracted, a hook member slidable within the housing, means to tension the hook member, the extreme free end of the hook being engageable with the extreme free end of the housing extension, a depressible arm on the member located entirely Within the housing, said housing having a side notch and a finger on the arm extending through the notch.

8. In a catch, a housing having a side opening, a slidable hook member in the housing having a longitudinal arm which extends adjacent the side of the housing having said opening, a spring to afi'ect automatic sliding of said member to open position, and means on the free end of the arm extending through said side opening to hold the member locked against the action of the spring.

4. In a catch, a housing, formed with a side notch and with a relatively small back opening, a slidable hook member in the housing, an abutment in the housing, a spring for tensioning the member insertible through said opening and engageable with the rear end of the member and with said abutment, a supplemental back plate for the housing extending over said back opening to hold the spring in place, and means on the hook member engageable in the notch to hold the hook member in locked position.

5. In a catch, a housing, a slidable catch in the housing, said housing having a side notch, a depressible arm located entirely within the housing, and extending along a side of the member and having a finger movable into and out of the notch, and a spring for tensioning the member engaged with the rear end thereof.

6. In a catch, a housing, a hook member slidable in the housing and having a cut-out to form a side arm and a finger projecting out therefrom, a stop in the cutaway part, said housing having a side notch to receive the finger and having a back opening and other openings, a spring for the hook member insertible in the back opening, and a back plate having parts engageable in said other openings, and in thecut-away part of the hook member, said back plate covering the back opening to hold the spring in position.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

JOSEPH OHABOI. WVitnesses:

MILDRED L. DARLING, MERTYs E. PAGINGTON.

Gopiee of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Gommissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G. 

